Process and apparatus for deriving spinning fiber from fiber-bearing plant stems



1,729,772 ARATUS .FOR DERIVING SPINNING FIBER FROM FIBER BEARING PLANTSTEMS e h 4 S t e e h S 4 Oct. 1, 1929. R. FORSYTH PROCESS AND APP FiledAug. 12. 1926 I i Me; Zor.

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FIBER FROM FIBER BEARING PLANT STEMS Filed Aug. 12, 1926 NG SPINNING 4Sheets-Sheet 2 I I G 3*1 I L l l 4| b l x I E. 11 i .5

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Oct. -1, 1929. FORSYTH 1,729,772 PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR DERIVINGSPINNING FIBER FROM'FIBER BEARING PLANT STEMS Filed Aug. 12, 1926 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 1, 1929. R. FORSYTH 1,729,772

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR DERIVING SPINNING FIBER FROM FIBER BEARINGPLANT STEMS Filed Aug. 12, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 @Vezpiaz. K05617 252"yi. y Q A JS'JQ'fi Or a. I

. Patented Oct. 1, 1929 .UNl TED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROBERT FORSYTH, OFCHICAGO, ILLINoIs, AssIGNoR To ROBERT N. BURTON, TRUSTEE,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 'PROGESS AND APPARATUS FOR DERIVING SPINNING FIBERFROM FIBER-BEARING RLANT sTE vIs Application filed August 12, 1926.Serial No. 128,744.

The purpose of this invention is to provide an apparatus for obtainingthe valuable textile fiber from fibrous plants such as hemp, ramie. andjute and the like, containing such fiber in the exterior layerssurrounding a woody core, the process of separating the fiber beingtherefore of the'general character of decortication. It consists in theelements and features of construction of the apparatus shown and thesteps of the process described as indicated in the claims.

In the drawings I Figure 1 is a plan view of a tank for heated bathequipped with apparatus embodying this invention for handling the stalksto be treated in and through the bath.

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section of the apparatus at the line2-2 on Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section at the line 33 on Figure '1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail section showing the construction of thestripping devices.

Figure 5 is a detail section at the line 5-5 on Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a detail elevation at the line 66 on Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a detail elevation of the drive gearing viewed as indicatedat line 77 on Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a detail elevation partly in section. showing theconstruction of certain small trucks for carrying the stalk carriers intheir travel longitudinally of the tank for moving the stalk n'iasses orbfidlesin the bath toward the position therein at which the stalks areto be withdrawn and propelled to the strippers.

Figure 9 is an elevation similar to Figure 8 showing the truck, T, on alarger scale.

Figure 10 is a detail section taken as indicated at line 10-1O on Figure8.

Figure 11 is a detail elevation taken partly at the plane indicated atlire (3-(S on Figure 4. and partly at the'plane indicated at line 11-11on Figure 4 for showing the construction of the stripper plates.

The apparatus shown in the drawings comprises an elongated tank, A, forcontaining a solvent liquid (which may be water only) for softening theremovable and fiber-containing layers of the stalks to be treated. Thetreatment for softening the removable layers re- A quires, in order tobe effective, that the solvent liquid should be heated to thetemperature approximating the boiling point of water, desirably aboutfrom 200 F. to 212 F., and for this purpose the tank is provided withsteam heating pipes, B, positioned along the longitudinal walls and endwalls as seen in Figures 1 and 2, their proper connections extending outthrough one end wall as seen at Z), Z), in Figure 3. For maintaining thesolvent bath in the tank at proper depth, connection is made with thesource of water supply indicated by pipe, 20, entering the tank at thebottom, preferably at the end at which the steam pipe connections aremade, so that the entering water from the source of supply is exposed tothe heating means promptly upon its entrance, thereby preventing theexposure of the stalk contents of the tank at any point to cold Water. Avalve, 21, is provided for regulating the rate of water supply tocompensate for the evaporation, and for the water carried away with thestalks when they are ithdrawn in the process of stripping, ashereinafter described; and a float, 22, in the tank has a snap actionconnection with the valve, which is indicated as to its totality at 24for closing the valve when the water rises to a predetermined highlevel, and opening it when the water falls below that predeterminedlevel; said predetermined level being such as to maintain a constantoverflow which occurs at the end of the tank at which the strippingdevices are located, as hereinafter more particularly described, suchoverflow discharging into a trough, 60, hereinafter mentioned, anddescribed as provided for the special purpose of receiving thestrippings. H Atthe end of the tank opposite that at which the steampipes are preferably connected, as stated, overhanging a relativelyshort portion of the length of the tank, there is mounted meanshereinafter more particularl I described, and indicated in its totalityby re erenceletter, C, for withdrawing the stalks individually andpropelling them, to strip-' ping devices indicated in its totality byrefcal erence letter, I), and hereinafter particularly described. Forlocating in the bath the stalks to be treated, and for carrying them tothe location therein at which they are to be withdrawn for thestripping, they are handled in bundles or masses which are introducedinto the bath at the end of the tank remote from the location of thestripping devices, so that they may be exposed to the bath for softeningthe layers which are to be stripped throughout the length of timerequired for stripping the stalks of all the masses of bundles whichhave preceded them in their advance through the length of the tank; andthe length of the tank is such a multiple of the length of theindividual stalks masses, or bundles as the time required for softeningby the exposure to the hot bath the layers which are to be stripped, isof the time required for stripping the stalks of each mass. And thestalk masses are advanced successively from the end at which they areintroduced into the bath to the opposite end at which the stalks havingbecome suitably softened as to their removable layers by the heatedbath, are individually withdrawn and propelled to the stripping devicesfor removing the softened layers. For maintaining the water within thedesirable temperature limits. the steam-controlling valve, 23, isthermostatically controlled by temperature responsive device indicatedin totality by the reference letter, E. and hereinafter described indetail, having its temperature sensitive element. 25, immersed in thewater at about the middle of the width of the tank. For holding andadvancing the stalk masses there are provided stalk carriers which, asillustrated, are in the form of slings consisting of a plurality-asshown, twoflexible straps, 30, 30, having their opposite ends attachedto supports lodged upon the upper edges of the opposite sides of thetank, and intermediate their ends dropping in a loop into the bathnearly to the bottom thereof, and adapted to hold a mass of stalks whichmay be lodged in the sling, filling the same nearly to the water levelor top of the bath. The stalks to be treated, if they are thoroughlydry, will normally tend to float, and for holding the entire masssubmerged in the bath, there is provided a cross bar, 31, extendingacross the upper open end of each loop, secured to the mounting devicehereinafter described to which the ends of the strap are attached. saidcross bar being depressed intermediate its ends across the entire upperopen end of the loop, so as to be itself slightly submerged in the bath,and thereby to hold the mass of stalks, in its entirety, submerged. Forholding the straps which form the sling described, and for carrying theentire sling bodily on the side walls of the tank movable therealong forcarrying the stalk masses from the end at which they are introduced tothe end at which they are to be stripped, there tank, and of the stalksto be lodged in the sling, thereby holding the two strap loops at asuitable distance apart to adapt them properly to support the stalkmasses to be lodged in the sling. And in order to facilitate theadjustment of the two straps in respect to their distance apart suitablyaccording to the length of the stalks, which may vary at differenttimes, the tie-bar, 35, is desirably formed in two sections which arelapped and secured together by bolts, 36, engaging registered andlapping holes, 35 in the two sections of the bar. The trucks, 32, at theother side of the tank are desirably unconnected, for convenience inhandling as hereinafter described. The straps are detachably connectedwith the trucks, 32, by hooks, 32, provided on the trucks for engagementwith eyes, 30:, in the ends of the straps. On the trucks, 33, there arejournaled windlasses, 37, 37, one upon each of the trucks, 33, connectedby a shaft, 38, extending from truck to truck; and to accommodate theadjustment of the two-part bar, 35, a shaft, 38, is in two sectionsconnected by a sleeve, 38. The ends of the straps are connected to theWindlass respec-' tively, for winding up the straps thereon to shortenthe loops and press the stalk contents upwardly against thestalk-withdrawing devices hereinafter deseribed. A ratchet wheel, 39,mounted on the shaft adjacent to one of the trucks, co-operates with apawl, 39, mounted upon that truck for locking the windlasses to upholdthe loops at any position to which they may be wound up.

The devices for stripping the removable fiber containing layers from thestalk cores hereinafter to be described in detail, are adapted forindividual operation upon the individual stalks and for that purpose a,means is provided for Withdrawing the stalks individually from themasses in which they are handled in the softening bath as described.This means for withdrawing individual stalks and propelling themindividually to individual strippers, is located at the opposite end ofthe bath from that at which the stalks are loaded into the carryingslings, and comprises an endless propeller or feeder belt, 40, carriedabout rollers, 41 and 42, journaled in a suitable frame which consistsof side bars, 43, 43, said frame being pivoted at one end to journalbearing brackets, 44, 44, mounted on the top of the end wall of the tankfor ournalling the driving roller, 41, (driven as hereinafter described)and a cross'shaft, 45, at the opposite end of the side bars rigidtherewith on which cross shaft the idle roller, 42, is journaled. Thebelts, 40, have their teeth, 40*, projecting outwardly for dependingfrom the belt at its lower course for engaging individual stalks at thetop of the mass which may at a given time be in the position at thestripper and of the tank. \Vhen a loaded carrier is to be moved intothis position the feeder frame is swung up about its pivotal support onthe driving shaft journal brackets; and the carrier isv moved intoposition to be overhung by the feeder belt when the latter is swung downinto operative position. Before swinging it down the check-bars, 31, areremoved. the trucks, 33, being first hooked fast to the track, 34, byhooks, 33 provided for that purpose; and when the feeder frame is swungdown to feeding position the operator by the ratchet feeding meansdescribed winds up the sling straps to press the stalk mass upwardlyagainst the feeder belt, causing the teeth 40 to engage the stalks lyingat the top of the mass carried in the sling; and as the belt is drivenby the power connection hereinafter described, the individual stalkswhich have been engaged by the belt teeth, are withdrawn from the massof stalks and propelled endwise to the individual strippers. Meanwhilethe operator winding up the sling straps in steps at short intervals,maintains the upward pressure of the stalk mass against the belt, sothat as the mass is reduced by the stalks withdrawn, the successivelayers are brought to the top, until the total stalk contents of thecarrier are withdrawn. The operator then swings up the feeder frames,and the attendant at the rear side of the tank unhook's the sling strapsfrom the trucks, 32,

and transfers said trucks from the track, 34,

to the track. 34*, which isslightly inclined back down toward theentering end of the tank, so that the trucks are returned by gravity tothat end. At the same time the operator at the forward side of the tanktransfers the connected trucks, 33, carrying the' sling strapspermanently attached thereto, to the return track, 341 at that side, tobe returned by gravity to the entering end, where the trucks at bothsides are replaced on the inner track, 34, and the sling straps arehooked in place, and made ready for receiving a new loadof stalks.

Tlie stripping devices will now be described. These each consists of aplate of elastic material as rubber, indicated at 50, having for eachstripping operation an aperture, 51, for admitting the end of the woodycore of the stalks shown at w in Fig. 3, which is usually found exposedbeyond the fiber layers or by the splitting and folding back of thoselayers which results from the exposure of the stalks-to the soaking andsoftening action of the hot bath and the action of the feeder belt teethin withdrawing the stalks from the mass inthe carrier. And if the coreis not actually protruding when the end of the stalk is thrust to thestripper plate aperture. 51, the outer layers are pushed back and slitby the thrust which forces the core to said aperture, 5'1, of thestripper plate, 50. The thrust which the stalk receives from the feederbelt whose teeth have engaged the stalk as described, is adequate toprotrude the core through the stripper plate, 50, into engagement of apair of co-operating feeding rollers, 53, 54, located beyond the line ofthe stripping plates, and these rollers driven by powerhereinafterdescribed, pull the stalk core through the stripping plate leaving theouter layers, indicated at y, peeled off from the core behind thestripper plate, like a glove finger peeled off from the finger of thewearer, and accumulated in a mass which droops into the trough, 60,already mentioned, where there is a constant flow of water maintained byan ov'erfiow from the tank, which carries the strippings to the lowerend of the trough where an operator stands ready to seize each of theindividual strippings as they come to hand and shake them out into fulllength ready for being passed to a degumming apparatus not shown,

but which is employed in the total process hereinafter described, ofwhich the softening by hot bath and stripping constitute the initialsteps.

The detail construction of the stripping device is that the rubberstrippers are preferably made of comparatively short pieces of rubberplate about one-fourth of an inch in thickness, each piece being oflength to accommodate about six stripping apertures, 51, spaced apartabout the average diameter of the stalks, or double the diameter of thesmaller end; so that in the path or advance of each stalk. propelled bythe feeder belt, 40, there will be found at least two stripperapertures, 51. The stripper plate sections, 50, are assembled end to endin a stripper frame mounted fixedly on the end wall of the bath tank,said frame comprising a bracket, 80, having its upstanding web formedwith a horizontal succession of apertures corresponding in length to thelength of the sections of the rubber plate, 50, and clamping plates, 83,adapted to be applied to said upstanding web for clamping the rubberplate sections, 50, thereto: said clamping plates having apertures, 84,corresponding in position and spacing to the apertures, 51, of therubber plates, and having said apertures, 8-1, bounded by lips orflanges beveled and tapered as hereinafter described, for guiding thestalks propelled by the feeder belt to the stripper, to insure theirentrance each into anaperture', 51. These apertures, 51, being spacedapart from center to center, as above described, the-re are two aper--tures to each stalk of any normal layer of stalks which will constitutethe top of any mass of stalks ,upon which feeder belt operates forengaging and propelling the stalks to the stripper; and the teeth, 41,of the feeder belt are arranged in rows similarly spaced apart instaggered arrangement with alternating rows; so that the number ofstalks at any time advancing together to the stripper plate, i. e. withtheir advance ends in transverse alignment, so as to reach the stripperplate simultaneously, will not exceed one-half the number of strippingapertures in the plate, 50. By this means it is insured that there willnever be two stalks steered into the same aperture, and that no stalkwhich is advanced by the feeding belt can fail of entering an aperture,and being thereby stripped. For it will be understood that when the endof a stalk encounters the rubber plate, 50, at the vicinity of anaperture therein(and that no encounter can occur except at the vicinitof an aperture is insured by the uide lips re 'erred to on the sectionalclamp plates, 82)the rubber will yield in the direction of the thrust soas to present a concave face to the thrustino' stalk, at the center ofwhich concavity stands the aperture into which the end of the stalkswill be deflected by the slope, if it is not already perfectly inalignment with the aperture.

The apertures, 84, in the clamping plates, 83, are preferably square,and they are spaced to register center to center with the apertures, 51,of the stripper plate, 50. From the face of the clamping plate upper andlower lips, 86, 87, project toward the advancing stalks which arepropelled by the feeder belt, said lips being beveled respectively onthe under end on the upper sides, making a vertically flaring mouthleading to the respective apertures, 84; and between said aperturesthere are formed doubly beveled or wedge-shaped flanges, 88, which meetthe pivotal lips, 87, and with them form leads tapered from all foursides to the apertures, 84.

For directing the stalks from'the level at which they areengaged by thefeeder belt which is necessarily below the governed or overflow level ofthe tank'to the proper level for encounter with the stripper at thestripper apertures, there is mounted at the end of the tank an approachboard, 89, which slopes up from its lower edge, positioned a littlebelow the governed or overflow level of the tank, and the plane at thelower feeding course of the feeding belt, to substantially the level ofthe lower line of the tapered leads described. By this means it isrendered certain that the stalks will all reach the stripper and thateach stalk will enter alone a stripper aperture. 1

The stripper apertures may be adapted for easy enlargement by the thrustof the stalks,

and for easy yielding of the elastic stripper plate into concave formfor causing the stalk ends to be directed to the apertures if notaligned therewith, by cutting in the plate, 50,

slits, 51, from the apertures, 51, diverging 90 apart from saidapertures preferably in the lines of diagonals of the square aperturesof the clamping plates, 83. lVhen this construction'is adopted theplates, 50, may be of other than stretchable material, as, for example,light spring metal, sufliciently flexible and resilient to permit thefour tongues caused by the diagonal slitting to be flexed outwardly bythe thrust and taper of the stalk cores, and to react resilientlystrongly enough to effect the desired stripping without becoming set inflexed form.

It may be found of advantage in ope-rating upon certain types of fiberstalks, as certain rank growths of hemp, to promote the splitting of thelayers which are to be stripped by flattening the soaked and softenedstalks as they leave the bath before they encounter the strippers. Andfor that purpose there are shown in the drawings a pair of flatteningand squeezing rollers, 95, 95, mounted at the head of the slopingapproach board, 89, and

between the latter and the protruding lips and flanges of the clampingplates, 83, between which rollers the stalks are thrust by the feederbelt, the rollers being mounted for being readily rotated by frictionalengagement of the stalks passing through them, and held yicldinglytoward each other for applying the necessary squeezing pressure to thestalks to flatten their softened layers with the tendency to split themat the opposite sides as they pass through the roll.

In some instances it may be found useful to drive these flatteningrollers at a speed corresponding to the rate at which the stalks arepropelled by the feeder belt to relieve the belt and the stalk-engagingteeth thereof of the duty of propelling the stalks against theresistance imposed by the pressure of the rollers for flattening andsplitting the softened layers. And the drawings show means for s0driving these flattening rollers, consisting of a belt, 96, passingaround a pulley, 97, upon the shaft of the lower of the two rollers. Thebelt may be disconnected when the character of the stalks does notrequire the rolls to be driven.

For snap action of the water supply valve the construction is asfollows:

Upon the stem of the valve, 21, which is of the turn-cock type there ispivotally mounted an upstanding weighted lever, '0, having a range ofpivotal movement on the stem determined by the are between two stoppins, '0 0 set in the hub of the lever for encounter with a pin, '0which projects radially from the turncock stem, V The lever, Q), has ahorizontal arm, '0 which is connected with the float, V for upwardswinging of said lever arm, when the float rises with the water to thedesired overflow level. When the lever is thus swung up far enough tocarry the weighted lever over the center of the turn cock stem, theweight falling on the opposite side carries the radial pin, 0 intoencounter with the right hand stop pin, of, and rocks the turneock toclosed position. When the water level falls the short distance necessaryto cause the float by its unbuoyed weight to rock the weighted lever,41, back over the center, said lever falls in the opposite direction,and by engagement of the radial pin, 0 With the left hand stop pin, orocks the turn-cock to closed position.

The thermostatic control of the steam-eontrolling valve, 23, comprises asimple bi-me tallie'bar, W, mounted rigidly by one end on the tank wall,and extending submerged in the hot water of the bath. The free end ofthis bar is connected by a link, W to a tumble bob device similar tothat employed for operating the turn-cock valve, 21, to control thewater level; the steam-controlled valve, 23, being a turn-cock havingits stem, w, provided with radial pin, w, projecting between stop pins,102 and w on the hub of a weighted tumble bob lever, W which has ahorizontal lever arm, w, connected by link, W with the free end of thethermostatic bar, W, lost motion at one of the link connections beingprovided by a slot, 10 in the link long enough to accom- I modate thetumbling movement of the weighted lever,- W when it has first beentilted past the center by the pull or push of the thermostatic bar dueto the fiexure of the latter resulting from change of temperature whichrequires either the elosing or the opening of the steam valve.

The hot bath described, beside softening the gums and resins of thestalks, acts to dissolve a large proportion of the water solubles, ineluding such as tannic acid and peptic acid, which are made accessibleby the softening of the gums and resins and which remain in the water ofthe bath and pass off in the overflow with other scum-forming drossliable to be carried superficially by the stalks.

The entire process of deriving spinning fiber from the fiber-bearingstalks, of which the initial steps consist in treating thefstalks, asdescribed, in a hot bath for softening the removable layers, and thenstripping these layers from the woody center core of the stalks,comprises subsequent steps consisting in straightening the strippingsand subjecting them to pressure to squeeze out the softened gum andresin, which may be done by wringing rolls or the like, as may beunderstood without illustration or further description; next subjectingthe straightened and squeezed fibers for from one-half an hour tothree-quarters of an hour, while carefully maintaining the fibers insubstantially straightened arrangement, to a second bath at atemperature of approximately the boiling point of water, said bath beingrendered slightly alkaline by the addition to the water of about 3% ofsodium carbonate (5% of 58% commercial sodium carbonate) to dissolve theremnant of gums and resins remaining after the softening and squeezingof the preceding steps and the water solubles not rendered accessiblebythe first bath; next subjecting the fiber, still maintainedinstraightened form, to pressure for squeezing out the substancesdissolved by the last bath; next subjecting the squeezed andstraightened fiber to a third bath of substantially the same temperatureas before, having a very small per cent of hydrochloric acid (1% issufficient) for neutralizing the alkali remaining in the fiber from thepreceding bath next, subjecting the fiber to pressure for eliminatingthe liquid of the acid bath next, washing the fiber, still maintained instraightened form, for clearing the remnant of acid and the remnant ofwater solubles; and finally eliminating the water by pressure, anddrying the fiber at a temperaturenot exceeding 150 F. The apparatus forthese steps subsequent to the stripping is n standing the process.

I claim:

1. A decorticating apparatus for operating onfiber-bearing stalkscomprising a heated bath; means for carrying stalks to be operated uponen masse in the bath to a preselected position therein; said stalksbeing disposed and maintained longitudinally of their direction ofmovement in the bath; a stalk feeder overhanging said postion forengaging the stalks individually for withdrawing them longitudinallyfrom the mass and propelling them towards stripping means, and astripping device to which the stalks are thus propelled in saidwithdrawing movement.

2. In the construction defined in claim. 1 means for upholding the massof stalks at the selected postion in the bath for engagement of a topstratum thereof with the withdrawing means and for lifting the mass as.stalks are withdrawn from the top, to replace the withdrawn stalks bythose below which are thereby brought into position to be in turn catedin combination with a heated bath in an elongated tank, means forcarrying suc- 4. In an apparatus for the purpose'indiforstalk-propelling movement longitudinally of the bath; whereby the stalkmasses may be arranged in the bath with the stalks lengthwise thereof,so that the mass movement toward the postion of individual movement tothe stripping means is in the same direction as said individualmovement.

6. In the construction defined in claim 1 the means for engaging thestalks individually for propelling them to the stripping means,comprising an endless belt mounted for travel in a vertial plane andhaving protruding teeth for engaging the stalks from above in the lowercourse of said travel, and means for driving said belt.

7. In the construction defined in claim 4 a I stalk-actuating devicemounted overhanging the position in the tank to which the stalk massesare successively advanced, comprising an endless toothed belt, a frameon which the belt is carried for travel in its endless path for engagingthe stalks by the belt teeth in the lower course of the belt; rollers byand about which the belt is driven in said path, said frame beingpivoted about the axis of the driving roller for swinging up from thebath to admit the stalk mass to place under the down-swing postion ofthe belt.

8. A decorticating apparatus for operating on fiber-bearing stalks andthe like comprising a heated bath; carriers for carrying successivemasses of stalks in the bath along the extent thereof to a selectedpostion therein; means movably upheld overhanging said selected postionfor engaging individually the upper stalks of the mass and withdrawingthem endwise from the carrier, said over hanging means being mounted formovement out of said overhanging postion to admit and permit thewithdrawal of the carrier.

9. In the construction defined in claim 8 the stalk withdrawing meanscomprising an endless belt, driving and driven rollers about which itpasses, and a frame in which said rollers are journaled, said framebeing pivoted for swinging about the axis of one of the rollers to clearthe path for admitting and withdrawing the stalk-mass-carriers toandfrom said position.

10. In conbination with a heated bath in whose contents a mass of stalksmay be immersed forsoftening the removable layers I thereofpreparatoryto their removal, a stripping device, and means for movingthe stalks individually thereto; a trough at the entering side of thestripping devices for receiving the fiber stripped from the stalks, andmeans for maintaining a current through said trough to move thestrippings away from the stripping devices.

11. In an apparatus for the purpose indicated in combination with aheated bath for softening the removable layers of stalks to be treated,and means for propelling the stalks individually from the bath to saidstripping devices, the stripping devices comprising each a plate ofelastically stretchable material as rubber, having apertures dimensionedfor admitting the smaller end of the stalk core, and means locatedbeyond said apereured plate-for engaging the core and pulling it throughthe aperture.

12. In an apparatus for the purpose indi cated a stripping devicecomprising a support and parts mounted therein forming stretch-v ableboundaries for apertures normally dimensioned for admitting the smallerends of stalk cores, and adapted to be stretched by the passagetherethrough of the stalk core at greatest diameter thereof.

13. In the construction defined in claim 1 the stripping device locatedat a plane above the stalk-engaging and propelling ply of the belt, andan inclined guid e plate positioned across the path in which the stalksare propelledfrom the bath, sloping upwardly from a level below saidbath approximately to the level of the stripping device for deflectingthe forward ends of the stalks upwardly from the bath and guiding themto the stripping means.

14. In an apparatus for the purpose indicated a stripping deviceconsisting of a fixed member having an elastically bounded aperturenormally dimensioned for admitting the smaller end of the core of astalk from which the core-enveloping layers are to be stripped, andadapted to be yieldingly enlarged by the core to accommodate the same atthe parts of its length at which its diameter is greater.

15. In the construction defined in claim 14 the fixed member being arubber plate having an aperture, as specified in said claim 14.

16. In the construction defined in claim 14, the fixed member being arubber plate having an aperture, and means located at the entering sidethereof for thrusting the stalk to be stripped through saidaperture, andmeans at the opposite side for. engaging the core protruded from theaperture for pulling it through the stripping plate.

17. In the construction defined in claim 14 in c0mbinationw'ithitheelastically apertured stripping plate, means located at the enteringside thereof for thrusting the stalks to be stripped through theaperture, and grip their stripping by the stripping means. 1

19. In an apparatus for the purpose indicated in combination with anelongated tank for containing a solvent liquid bath, through which aquantity of fiber-bearing stalks are to be moved endwise, andstalk-stripping means located at a selected position in the path oftravel; open-topped carriers for masses of stalks to be treated in thebath supported on the opposite longitudinal walls of the tank movabletherea'long, and having each a transversely extending check-bar near theopen top for holding the stalk contents of the carrier longitudinallydisposed with respect to their direction of movement and submerged inthe bath throughout the movement to the selected position, removable atthat position for exposing the stalks at the top of the mass tostalk-feeding means.

20. In an apparatus for, the purpose indicated, in combination with anelongated tank for containing a solvent liquid bath through which aquantity of fiber-bearing stalks are to be moved endwise, andstalk-stripping means located at a selected position in the a path oftravel; open topped carriers for the mass of stalks to be treated in thebath, supported on the opposite longitudinal walls of the tank andmovable therealon releasableu u b I means for holdlng the stalks 1n. thecarriers submerged in the bath through the movement to said selectedposition; a stalk-feeder overhanging the selected position for engagingthe stalks individually for withdrawing them longitudinally from themass, and propelling them toward the strippers, the open-tapped carriersdepending into the bath; and means for pressing the stalk contents ofthe carriers upwardly for holding the top layers of stalks in engagementwith the stalk feeder.

21. In an apparatus for the purpose indicated, in combination with anelongated tank for containing a solvent liquid bath through which aquantity of fiber-bearing stalks are to be moved endwise, andstalk-stripping means located at a selected pdsition in the path oftravel; open topped carriers for the I mass of stalks to be treated inthe bath, supported on the opposite longitudinal walls of the tank andmovable therealong; releasable means for holding the: stalks in thecarriers submerged in the bath through the movement to said selectedposition; a stalk feeder overhanging the selected position for engagingthe stalks individually for withdrawing them longitudinally from themass and propelling them toward the strippers, the opentopped carriescomprising earh a pluralityof flexible straps forming loops droopinginto the bath transversely of the tank, and means at one side of thetank for drawing up the ends of the straps at that side'to shorten theloops and press the stalk contents upwardly into engagement of the upperstalks with the overhanging stalk feeders when the checkbars have beenremoved.

22. In an apparatus for the purpose indicated, in combination'with anelongated tank for containing a'solvent liquid bath through which aquantity. of fiber-bearing stalks are to be moved endwise, andstalk-stripping means located'at a selected position in the path oftravel; open topped carriers for the mass of stalks to be treated in thebath, supported on the opposite longitudinal walls of the tank andmovable therealong releasable means for holding the stalks in thecarrier's submerged in the bath through the movement to said selectedposition; a stalk feeder located overhanging the selected position forengaging the stalks individually for withdrawing -them longitudinallyfrom the mass, and propelling them toward the strippers, the open-toppedcarriers comprising each a plurality of flexible straps forming loopsdrooping into the bath transversely of the tank; a Windlass device atone side of the tank to which the ends of the straps at that side areattached; means for operating the Windlass for winding up the straps atthat side to shorten the loops and press the stalk contents upwardlyinto engagement of the upper stalks with the overhanging stalk feederwhen the check-bars have been removed.

23. In an apparatus for the purpose indiforming loops drooping into thebath tran versely of the tank; a windlass at one side of the tankto'which the strap ends at that side are connected for winding up thestraps to press the stalk contents of the carriers upwardly at theselected position when the stalk-submerging means are released;stalkfeeding and withdrawing means overhanging said position, againstwhich'th stalks are thus pressed.

24. In an apparatus for the purpose indicated a plurality of strippersarranged in a row side by side at short intervals with wedgeshapedguidesaligned respectively with the half-way points between theconsecutive strippers for guiding the stalks individually to individualstrippers; means for assembling a plurality of stalks to be stripped inposit-ion side by side with their length transverse to the row ofstrippers; stalk feeders for engaging the stalks individually andpropelling them end-wise toward the strippers, the strippers being innumber at least two in the path of operation of each stalk feeder; foravoidin g feeding of two stalks to the same stripper.

25. In an apparatus for the purpose indicated in combination with meansfor positioning stalks in amass extending all in the same generaldirection, stalk feeders distributed at intervals transversely of thelength of the stalks for engaging the stalks individually andwithdrawing them lengthwise from the mass, and propelling them towardsstripping devices, such stripping devices distributed in line transverseto the direction of withdrawal and propulsion of the stalks, saidstripping devices being in number at least two for each unit of'thestalk'feeders; for avoiding feeding two stalks to the same stripper.

26. In an apparatus for the purpose indicated in combination witha'heated bath for softening the removable layers of stalks,

means for moving the stalks en masse side by side longitudinally throughthe bath; stripping devices adjacent a selected position in the bath,and means for propelling the stalks individually to said strippingdevices; a trough at the entering side of the stripping devices forreceiving the fiber stripped from the stalks, and means for maintaininga current through said trough to move the strippings away from thestripping devices.

27 In an apparatus for the purpose indi cated in combination with aheating bath for softening the removable fiber-containing layers of thestalks to be treated; means for propelling the stalks individually tothe stripping means; stripping devices at which the stalks are thuspropelled adapted for delivering the strippings at the side adjacent theI bath; a trough into which the strippings are thus delivered connectedwith-the bath for receiving overflow therefrom for maintaining a currentthrough the trough to move the strippings away from the strippingdevices.

28. The process of derivin spinning fiber from fiber plant stalks whiccomprises the following steps :'-first :-:-subjectingthe stalks to theaction of a water bath at atemperature approximating the boiling pointfor a suflicient time to render plastic the gums and res ins, anddissolve the water solubles thereby rendered accessible; second:-mechanically stripping the softened layers from the central woodycore; third :-straightening'the strippings]; fourth :subjecting thestraightened strippings to pressure for squeezing out the plastics;fifth :-subjecting the straightened partly degummed fibers to a secondhot water bath containing approximately 3% sodium carbonate at atemperature approximating the boiling point for 30 to 45 minutes; sixthsubjecting the fiber in substantially straightened form to pressure forsqueezing out the substance dissolved by the bath; seventh subjectingthe fiber to a third hot bath consisting of a weak solution ofhydrochloric acid for neutralizing the alkali remaining in the fiberfrom the preceding bath; eighth subjecting the fiber to pressure foreliminating the water-of the last bath; ninth washing the fiber indistilled water for clearing it of the remnant of acid and absorbing theremnant of water solubles; finally removing the water by pressure anddrying the fiber at a temperature not exceeding 150 F.

29. The process of deriving spinning fiber from fiber plant stalks whichconsists in first :-rendering plastic the gum and resinbearing andfiber-containing layers; second:--mechanically stripping the softenedand plastic layers and straightening the fiber containing strippings;third :-mechanically eliminating the plastics from the fibenby pressure;fourth :treating the remaining straightened fiber by a weak alkalinesolution for dissolving the remaining plastics and water solubles; fifth:--mechanically eliminating the solvent liquid andplastics carriedthereby; sixth :subjecting the fiber to a hot very weak hydrochloricacid solution for neutralizing the remnant of the alkali;seventh:-washing the fiber in distilled water for removing the remnantof the acid; and

finally drying the fiber in substantially straightened form.

ROBERT FORSYTH.

